Anna Domitrovic
gave the treasurers report, which is attached. The money market account is
yielding 1.32% interest, which is an increase from earlier this year. VL said
the treasurers report should be published in the newsletter at least once a
year.

The agenda for the upcoming general meeting was
discussed, members were designated to discuss certain items during that meeting.

AD would remind
members about dues & urge them to check their information on the web site for
accuracy. There was a discussion of how foreign members could pay their dues,
which would be continued in the general meeting.

VL said that AGI
has four committees needing representatives from SMMP, and the following
suggestions were made:

Education comm: Susan Erikkson

Government affairs comm: Mike
Wise

AGI Council: Virgil Lueth

Environmental geosciences advisory comm: no suggestions

JD, chair of the
Education committee, reported that there will be two SMMP cases in Tucson for
their 50th anniversary show.

TH suggested the
program consist of several speakers on the subject of gold fakes, one of whom
could be Ed Raines.

VL reported on
the situation at the Denver Natural History Museum, and will draft and send a
letter to their Board of Trustees regarding the mineral collection.

TK suggested the
group ask Pete Megaw about possible methods of transport for gold specimens
coming to the Tucson show.

Meeting
adjourned at 2:00 pm.

General Meeting

The meeting was
called to order by president Virgil Lueth at 2:05 pm. Introductions followed.
Nineteen members and guests were present.

The minutes from
the previous meeting in Tucson were read and approved unanimously.

Anna Domitrovic
gave the treasurers report and reminded members about their dues and the web
site.

Tony Kampf led a
discussion on foreign members and proposed the formation of SMMP Europe to
facilitate payment of dues and the organization of non-US meetings. A
moratorium of a year or more on dues payment was suggested for all members, or
for just foreign members. Since SMMP expenses are minimal, this would not be a
hardship, and would probably encourage more foreign members to join and
participate in SMMP. Jeff Post suggested making dues voluntary.

VL
stated that, before Tucson, the Board would discuss possible changes to the SMMP
by-laws relative to dues. Jeff Post pointed out that there should be some way
to confirm a persons membership, if dues is eliminated. Discussion followed.

VL described AGI
committees and asked for members who would be willing to attend those meetings,
if they were planning to go to GSA in Seattle in November. There were no
volunteers.

Jean DeMouthe
reports on the Denver SMMP case, which was on gemstone fakes. There will be
two SMMP exhibits in Tucson: gold fakes and gold from odd localities.

Terry Huizing
proposed a program on gold fakes, with at least two speakers, one of whom should
be Ed Raines.

Tony Kampf
reported that Peter Megaw is working on getting secure storage set up for gold
specimens before the Tucson show. Wells Fargo has tentatively offered, as long
as they can deliver the gold all at once using both an armored car and a
stagecoach. Information about this should appear in the Tucson show invitation,
and if SMMP members have problems related to storage, they should contact Peter
Megaw.

Jeff Post
described how the USNM has items shipped to and from the Tucson Convention
Center.

VL described the
situation at the Denver Museum of Natural History, where mineralogist Jack
Murphy was just laid off. Peggy Ronning of the California Mining & Mineral
Museum also reported that her job as curator of the State collection may be in
jeopardy due to budget cuts. Bill Cook suggested that SMMP encourage Trustees at
various institutions to endow mineral chairs to insure continuous care of
important collections.

VL described the
Natural Science Collection Alliance (formerly Assoc. of Systematic Collections)
and asked for a volunteer to work with this group. Mark Mauthner tentatively
volunteered.

Questions were raised regarding the upcoming MM V
meeting in Paris. Andrew Sicree suggested that we ask for an MM meeting to be
held in the U.S. Jeff Post suggested that perhaps this could be done as a joint
venture among Harvard, the American Museum, and the USNM.

Tony Kampf
reported that the Tucson Gem & Mineral Society has asked for suggestions of
other museums that may want to participate in their show, but have not yet done
so. Penny Williamson stated that a lack of travel funds affects foreign
museums ability to participate in U.S. shows. Andrew Sicree suggested that
perhaps one person could bring more than one exhibit, representing several
institutions.

Dmitri
Belakovski said that new data on minerals is now being published by the Russian
Academy of Sciences, including new mineral descriptions, discussions of museum
collections. These publications are available through Rocks and Minerals.

Penny W. asked
if it would be possible to publish collection-related papers on the SMMP web
site. Mark Mauthner suggested that a database or list of pdf versions of papers
already in print could be put on the web site (with publishers permission).
Tony Kampf suggested that any ideas should be sent to the Education Committee
(Jean DeMouthe).